The Kansas City Missouri Police Department is the only major city police department in the country beholden to the Governor and a Board of Police Commissioners instead of to its city residents.
The Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners meets monthly, and it's critical that gun violence prevention is a key agenda item. The public deserves to know they're taking the rise in gun violence seriously and have plans to implement strategic solutions for violence reduction that protect all city residents.
If you're a Kansas City resident, send a message to the Board asking them to make gun violence prevention a meeting discussion priority.
I'm a Kansas City resident and advocate for gun safety.
I'm writing to ask the Board of Police Commissioners to prioritize gun violence prevention in Kansas City, starting with making gun violence a part of all board meeting agendas. Last month, Mayor Lucas recommended ways to prioritize gun violence at Commission meetings, and I support these recommendations.
As of July 1, Kansas City has recorded 75 homicides and the majority involved firearms. This disproportionately burdens Black residents, as over 75% of homicide victims were Black but less than 30% of Kansas City's population is Black. We need people in leadership roles like you to take gun violence seriously by detailing the latest statistics on homicide rates and non-fatal shootings in your meetings, as well as provide the public with updates on the police department's plans to implement strategic solutions for violence reduction.
We deserve concerted focus and efforts on the gun violence crisis in our city, and that starts with you. Please make gun violence a key discussion item for all of your board meetings.